Apparatus of the overflow type for regulating the continuous flow of liquids throughcontainers



(2&5, 1954 w HQFFM 2,690,764

APPARATUS OF THE OVERFLOW TYPE FOR REGULATING THE CONTINUOUS FLOW OFLIQUIDS THROUGH CONTAINERS Flled Jan 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Wa/fer Hoffmann BY m v-T WL W. HOFFMANN 2,690,764 TING THE TAINERSAPPARATUS OF THE OVERFLOW TYPE FOR REGULA CONTINUOUS FLOW OF LIQUIDSTHROUGH CON 1951 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 26,

BY 9%. Wag 1% Oct. 5, E954 w HOFFMANN 2,690,764

APPARATUS OF THE ovERFLow TYPE FOR REGULATING THE CONTINUOUS FLOW OFLIQUIDS THROUGH. CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. Wu/fer Hoffmann Get. 5, 1954 APPARATUS OF THE OVERFLOW TYPEFOR REGULATING THE CONTINUOUS FLOW OF LIQUIDS THROUGH CONTAINERS FiledJan. 26, 1951 w. HOFFMANN 2,690,764

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IN VENTOR. Wahar- Hoffman/7 Patented Oct. 5, 1954 APPARATUS OF THEOVERFLOW TYPE FOR REGULATING THE CONTINUOUS FLOW 0F LIQUIDS THROUGHCONTAINERS Walter Hofimann, Lidingo, Sweden, assignor to AktiebolagetSeparator, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden ApplicationJanuary 26, 1951, Serial No. 207,978

(Cl. l37--563) 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for regulating the continuousdischarge of liquid from a container provided with inlet and outletmembers for the liquid and with an overflow device for keeping aconstant liquid level in the container.

With prior apparatus of this type, liquid could be discharged from thecontainer at a fixed rate through the outlet member by utilizing theconstant liquid level in the container. The constant liquid levelpresumes a constant supply of liquid to the container at a rate at leastequal to but preferably larger than the discharge rate through theoutlet member, so that there will be a continuous and simultaneousdischarge through the overflow device which gives full guarantee thatthe liquid level does not drop below the overflow edge. When it wasdesired to regulate the liquid discharge rate from the container throughthe outlet member, this was done by means of a throttling member, forexample, a needle valve in a pipe communicating with the outlet member.Throttling members, however, are apt to become clogged by dirt, whichinterferes with a desired accurate regulation. Moreover, throttlingmembers do not permit the device to be used in practice for regulationover wide limits, for example, from 10 litres/hour to 450 litres/hour.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for regulating therate of continuous discharge of the liquid from the vessel, theapparatus being adjustable over a very wide range, from a very small toa very great discharge rate of the liquid, and at the same time beinginsensible to clogging by dirt.

Another object of the invention is to prevent fluctuations in the liquidhead in the vessel, due to an abnormal rise of the liquid level over theedge of the overflow device. This rise occurs when the discharge rate ofliquid through the overflow device should be large but is not so, thatis to say, when, with a constant rate of supply of liquid to thecontainer, the discharge through the outlet member is throttledconsiderably.

A characterizing feature of the invention is that the outlet member ofthe vessel and the overflow device are mounted for relative movement ina vertical direction, whereby such relative movement causes a change inthe liquid discharge rate through the outlet. Another feature is thatthe overflow device is provided with a level overflow edge of greaterlength than the length of the perimeter around the smallest throughflowarea of the overflow device. Still another feature resides in thecombination of the relatively adjustable outlet member and overflowdevice of the container with a subchamber in the container connecting itwith the outlet member, whereby the sub-chamber controls the extent towhich the discharge rate through the outlet member varies with changesin the liquid level in the container as determined by the aforementionedrelative adjustment. Other features of the invention and theiradvantages will be understood from the embodiments which will bedescribed below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration, partly in vertical section, of aplant provided with an apparatus according to the invention forregulating the continuous supply of lye in fixed proportions to a memberwhich feeds the lye to a mixer against a counter-pressure in the mixer;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of an apparatus according tothe invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus illustratedin Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the part illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification of theapparatus;

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of the part forming the sub-chamber inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing a modification of thepart;

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevational views of modifications of the flowcontrol plate of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 11 is a plan View of another form of the overflow device, showingthe overflow edge;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, of anothermodification in which the outlet member of the container has its openingmovable in vertical direction relative to the overflow device;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the outlet memberswingably connected with the container in order to raise or lower theoutlet opening in relation to the overflow device, and

Fig. '14 is a vertical sectional view of another modification having anoutlet member vertically movable relative to the overflow device.

The arrangement according to Fig. 1 comprises a tank I containing lye 2which is fed to a container 1 through a pipe 3, a pump 4, a pipe 5 and astrainer 6. In container '1 the lye is kept at a constant head by anoverflow device 8, which is in the form of a funnel having a tube 9extending through the bottom of the container 1 and ending in a pipe H)which communicates with the pipe 3. Thus, the lye flowing back throughthe pipe I is returned to the pump 4 and is not lost. Lye is dischargedfrom the container I at the bottom through the outlet member II, whichis in the form of a pipe, and is fed at atmospheric pressure to a devicel2 adapted to feed the lye against a counter-pressure, if necessaryvariable, into an oil pipe l3 fOr subsequent reaction with the oil intank M. It will be understood that the lye is fed into the pump |2 at apredetermined rate through the open pipe without any risk of cloggingand at a constant pressure head.

In order to enable variations in the rate of flow of lye through pipe H,the liquid level in container 7, according to this embodiment of theinvention, is made regulatable by suspending the overflow device 8 froma threaded spindle l5 provided with a wheel l6 and turnable thereby in afixed nut device By turning the wheel IS, the funnel 8 and its pipe 9are raised or lowered, so that the liquid head in the container 1 risesor drops and the pressure is increased or reduced, which results in anincreased or reduced rate of discharge of liquid through pipe The upperdiameter of the funnel 8 is large in relation to the diameter of thepipe 9 in order to ensure immediate discharge of any excess liquidthrough the overflow device and prevent the liquid from risingappreciably over the edge of the overflow. Other and less bulky devicesfor this purpose will be described below. It is of very littlesignificance whether or not there are packing devices between thecontainer 1 and pipe 9, because the liquid discharging this way isreturned to the pump 4 through pipe ID.

The arrangement according to Figs. 2-5 comprises a tank Ia provided witha bottom |8 and a cover IS. The latter is fixed to the tank la by bolts20. The tank is provided with an inlet 5a and an outlet ||a for lye.Some distance above the orifice of the inlet member 5a of tank la is aguiding or bafile plate 2|. The tank 1a is fixed to a foundation (notshown) by studbolts 22. The overflow device includes a vessel or tank 8aopen at the top and provided with a horizontal bottom 80, the tank beingconnected to and communicating with a central vertical pipe 9a. Pipes23, open at both ends, extend through the bottom 80 and have their uppersurfaces on a level with the upper edge of the tank 8a. The pipe 9aextends down through an opening 24 in the bottom It! and makes a tightjoint with the latter by means of a packing 25 secured to the bottom l8by a ring 26, studbolts 2! and nuts 28. The overflow device 8a iscarried by a threaded spindle |5a fixed to it and extending upwardthrough an opening in the cover IS. The spindle I5! is threaded througha wheel Ifia rotatably held on the cover l9 between two fixed shouldersand 3|. The upper end of the spindle I511 is provided with an arm 32extending at its free end into a vertical groove 33 of a guide arm 34fixed to cover I!) by bolts 35. By rotating the wheel |6a, the dischargedevice 8a is raised or lowered in tank 111 without undergoing a rotatingmovement therein, owing to the guiding effect of the arms 32 and 34. Thearm 32 may thereby serve as an indicator which shows the position of thedischarge device 8a in tank 1a, on a scale 33a fixed to the arm 34.

The pipes 23 constitute a means of increasing, within a small volume,the length of the outlet or overflow edge of the discharge device 8a. Itthereby becomes possible to make the tank la with a small horizontalcross section. The upper end of pipe 9a extends through the cylindricalvessel 8a and serves as a support for the spindle lfia, which is weldedto the pipe 9a. The latter communicates With the vessel through verticalslots 36 in its wall. The shoulder 30 is fixed to the shoulder 3| byscrews 31, and the latter shoulder is welded to the cover l9. In thisembodiment, the tank Ia has a square horizontal section, and the inletand outlet members 5a and a are arranged each in a different corner ofthe tank. If desired, the inlet and outlet members may be doubled, asindicated in Fig. 3. The outlet member He is connected to a sub-chamber38 separated from tank 'la by a plate 33. The chamber 38 communicateswith the interior of tank in by a slot t?) in the wall 38. In order toenable easy alteration of the size and shape of slot 40, this may bearranged in a separate plate 4| which is exchangeably fixed to the plate39 by screws 42 over a large opening 43 in the plate.

By rotating the wheel lfia, the overflow device 8a, 9a is raised orlowered in the tank la and thereby determines the liquid head in thetank. Because the liquid can also rise in pipes 23 and overflow theiredges into the cylindrical vessel 81; and discharge through pipe 9a, theliquid head in tank l'a can never be appreciably higher than the freeedges of the pipes 23 or the edge of vessel 8a, the said edges lying inthe same horizontal plane. The liquid head in tank la there fore alwaysfollows the movements of the overflow device 8a, 9a almost exactly, if,as was assumed, the rate of supply of liquid through the inlet 5a isalways larger than the rate of discharge through outlet ila. Thearrangement therefore afiords a possibility of accurately regulating thepressure head of the liquid discharging through the outlet ia. The slot49 by which the tank 1a and the discharge member i in communicateaflords another regulating possibility. When the liquid head in tank larises, the cfiective outlet area through the slot 40 is enlarged, sothat in order to increase the discharge rate of liquid through theoutlet I la, the head of liquid in tank la need not be increased in thesame degree as would be necessary if the outlet area through slot aswere constant for all liquid heads in the tank la. This means increasedsensibility of the regulation when the overflow device 8a, 9a is raisedor lowered slightly relative to the tank 1a. By replacing the plate 4|with another plate having a difierent slot width, the plant can bealtered to produce a difierent ratio or characteristic of regulation.For example, with the plate 4|a of Fig. 9, the wedge-shaped slot lflacauses the discharge rate to increase more rapidly as the head in tank1a increases than with the plate 4|; and in the plate 431) of Fig. 10,the slot 40b is constructed according to a given curve which may beascertained by experiments or otherwise. Thus, the discharge rate of theliquid through outlet Ia can be made to follow a given curve or straightline, upon increase in the liquid head in tank la.

The cylindrical vessel So can, if desired, be replaced by the conicalfunnel of Fig. 11, the rim 44 of this funnel being corrugated in orderto increase considerably the length of the overflow edge of the devicewithin a small volume.

Instead of raising and lowering the overflow device 8a, 9a of Figs. 2-5,this device may be fixed and the tank la movable vertically. In thatcase the arm 32, spindle I50 and pipe 9a are suspended from a fixedsupport S (Fig. 2) as by screwing the spindle extension |5b tightlytherein, and the studbolts 22 are then released, so that the tank 7abecomes movable vertically. The threaded extension lib thus constitutesa means for supporting the overflow device 8a in a fixed verticalposition. When rotating the wheel l6a, the tank is then raised orlowered in relation to the overflow device 8a, 9a. Thus, the liquid headin tank la is altered and, consequently, the effective discharge areathrough slot 60, enabling the desired regulation of the rate of flow ofliquid through outlet member Ila.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the overflow device 81), 9b isprevented from rotating in relation to tank lb by a fork-shapedprojection 45 of the overflow device, engaging with a vertical guidingrod 46 on the inside of tank 7b. The wheel I 5b is also provided with apointer 41 indicating on a scale 48 on the cover |9b the rotation angleas part of one turn, whereas a slotted tube 49, graduated as shown at49a, measures the number of turns or rotations. The latter are indicatedon tube 49 by a pointer 50 fixed to the threaded spindle i511. In theFig. 6 embodiment, the plate 39 of Fig. 2 is replaced by a vertical tube5| extending from the bottom plate IBbof Fig. 6 through the tank 1b andthereby defining a sub-chamber. At its lower end, the tube 5|communicates with the outlet member llb. The side wall of tube 5| isprovided with a series of holes 52 arranged at a distance from oneanother along a vertical line (Fig 'l) and placing the tank lb incommunication with the outlet Hb'. A modified form of the tube 5| isillustrated in Fig. 8. As there shown, the tube Ela has holes 52a in twoseries at a distance from one another and with the holes mutuallydisplaced along two vertical lines. The arrangement of Fig. 6 operatesin substantially the same manner as the arrangement of Fig. 2. As analternative, the plate 4| of Figs. 2-5 may be provided with openingssimilar to those in the tube 5| or 5|a of Figs. 7 and 8, instead of aslot, and vice versa. Both the slots 40 and the openings 52, 52a may bemade large enough to avoid any risk of clogging by dirt.

In Figs. 12 and 13, I have shown apparatus according to the inventionprovided with discharge members He and Hd movable vertically in relationto the liquid level in tanks 1a and 1d, respectively. In Fig. 12, thevertical movement is made possible by using a flexible hose for part ofthe member i la, and in Fig. 13 by connecting the member 1 id rotatablywith tank Id. In both instances it is thus possible to raise or lowerthe outlet opening of members He and lid, so that the rate of liquiddischarge from the tank through the said members is in both casesregulatable. The discharged liquid is collected in a device 53. Theapparatus of Figs. 12 and 13 may have fixed or movable tanks 1c and idand also discharge devices of the types described.

Referring to Fig. 14, the tank If and the discharge device Bf with pipe9 f are fixed in relation to one another, whereas the discharge memberHf is in the form of a perforated tube vertically movable in the tank"if and ending in the outlet pipe 5 3. The pipe H is provided with abaille 55 which prevents liquid leaking from tank If along the pipe I Ifrom discharging through pipe 54. This liquid is discharged through pipe56, which also serves as a discharge for liquid from tube 9! collectedin tank 51 and returns this liquid to a pipe which conducts it back intothe tank If through the inlet 5f. The tank 5'! is fixed to tank If inany suitable manner (not shown), and the pipe ||f is raised and loweredby a device of any known type (not shown). The raising and lowering ofthe tank I, the overflow device 8, 9 and the outlet member Il may beeffected in many ways other than those illustrated and described. Bothmanual and automatic regulation may be used.

It will be apparent that the parts 22, I9, 31, lta and idea of Fig. 2(and the corresponding parts of the other embodiments) constitute meanssupporting the outlet member Ila and overflow device 81:. 53a forrelative movement in a vertical direction, to vary the discharge ratethrough the outlet member. By making the part 16a. rotatable, asdescribed, it becomes an adjustment member for raising and lowering theoverflow device in the container. When the parts 22 are eliminated, theparts 5, I5a, 16a, 38, 3| and I9 constitute the aforementionedsupporting means, in which case rotation of adjustment member [6a raisesor lowers the container relative to the overflow device. The plates 39,GI constitute a partition member in the container "Ia forming asub-chamber separate from the main portion of the container into whichthe inlet 5a leads, as does the tube or pipe 5| of Fig. 6. The screws orbolts 42 (Fig. 4) form a means for releasably securing the portionmember 4| in the container.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containerhaving a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet member connected to andcommunicating with the container for discharging liquid therefrom, aliquid overflow device in the container for discharging liquid therefromindependently of said outlet member, to maintain in the container asubstantially predetermined liquid head above the outlet member, anelement forming in the container a sub-chamber leading to the outletmember, said element having vertically elongated passage means affordingcom munication between the sub-chamber and the main part of thecontainer, and means supporting said outlet member and overflow devicefor relative movement in a vertical direction through a range whereinthe liquid level maintained by the overflow device coincides with saidvertically elongated passage means, to vary the rate of liquid dischargethrough said passage means to the sub-chamber and outlet member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising also a pointer and ascale, one connected to the overflow device and the other to thecontainer, for indicating the relative vertical movements of theoverflow device and outlet member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said inlet is located in thebottom of the container, and comprising also a battle in the containeroverlying said inlet.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said outlet member is a pipeconnected to and movable vertically relative to the container.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising also means for supportingthe overflow device in a fixed vertical position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said element forming thesub-chamber is a tube extending upward in the tank.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containerhaving a liquid inlet.

a liquid outlet member connected to and communicating with the containerfor discharging liquid therefrom, a bowl in the chamber having anover-now edge, a discharge tube extending downward from the bowl throughthe bottom of the container, overflow tubes in the bowl extendingthrough the bottom thereof and having at their upper ends overflow edgesat the level of said bowl edge, and means supporting said outlet memberand bowl for relative movement in a vertical direction, to vary theliquid head above the outlet member and the discharge rate therethrough.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containerhaving a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet member connected to andcommunicating with the container for discharging liquid therefrom, aliquid overflow device in the container for discharging liquid therefromindependently of said outlet member, to maintain in the container asubstantially predetermined liquid head above the outlet member, saidoverflow device including a bowl having an overflow edge, a dischargetube extending downward from the bowl through the bottom of thecontainer, and overflow tubes in the cowl extending through the bottomthereof and having at their upper ends overflow edges at the level ofsaid bowl edge, means supporting said outlet member and overflow devicefor relative movement in a vertical direction, to vary the rate ofdischarge through the outlet member, and a return pipe outside thecontainer and connecting said overflow device with the container.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containerhaving a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet member connected to andcommunicating with the container for discharging liquid therefrom, aliquid overflow device in the container for discharging liquid therefromin dependently of said outlet member, to maintain in the container asubstantially predetermined liquid head above the outlet member, apartition member in the container forming a sub-chamber communicatingwith the outlet member, said inlet leading into a main portion of thecontainer outside the sub-chamber, said partition member havingvertically elongated passage means for flow of liquid from said mainportion to the outlet member by Way of the sub-chamber, said containerhaving plane walls and said partition member being a plate located at acorner portion of the container, and means supporting said outlet memberand overflow device for relative movement in a vertical directionthrough a range wherein the liquid level maintained by the overflowdevice coincides with said elongated passage means, whereby thedischarge rate through the outlet member can be varied.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containerhaving a liquid inlet,

a liquid outlet member connected to and com municating with thecontainer for discharging liquid therefrom, a liquid overflow device inthe container for discharging liquid therefrom independently of saidoutlet member, to maintain in the container a substantiallypredetermined liquid head above the outlet member, a partition member inthe container forming a sub-chamber communicating with the outletmember, said inlet leading into a main portion of the container outsidethe sub-chamber, said partition member having vertically elongatedpassage means for flow of liquid from said main portion to the outletmember by way of the sub-chamber, means releasably securing thepartition member in the container to permit replacement thereof, andmeans supporting said outlet member and overflow device for relativemovement in a vertical direction through a range wherein the liquidlevel maintained by the overflow device coincides with said elongatedpassage means, whereby the discharge rate through the outlet member canbe varied.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containerhaving a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet member connected to andcommunicating with the container for discharging liquid therefrom, aliquid overflow device in the container for discharging liquid therefromindependently of said outlet member, to maintain in the container asubstantially predetermined liquid head above the outlet member, apartition member in the container forming a sub-chamber communicatingwith the outlet member, said inlet leading into a main portion of thecontainer outside the sub-chamber, said partition member having agenerally vertical slot for flow of liquid from said main portion to theoutlet member by way of said sub-chamber, and means supporting saidoutlet member and overflow device for relative movement in a verticaldirection through a range wherein the liquid level maintained by saiddevice coincides with said slot, whereby the discharge rate through theoutlet member can be varied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

